The sky was bright, and the autumn wind was gentle.
Magnolia was a seaside city, and apart from winter, the temperature didn't vary much during other seasons.
Behind the three-story tavern-like building, there was a large open space and a large lake connected to it.
That's right—in addition to the visible guild building, Fairy Tail actually had a large exclusive territory, but due to the guild's tight finances for many years, they didn't have the spare money for other constructions.
In the grassy clearing, on the ground originally used for guild activities, a man and a woman stood facing each other.
At the edge of the field, several figures stopped. Hearing that Erza was going to spar in martial arts with a new guild member, those who had nothing to do came to join the fun.
"It's really rare for Erza to actively invite Noah to spar. Natsu would be heartbroken if he knew, wouldn't he, Gray?"
A handsome man with sunglasses and brown hair looked at Gray with a half-smile. "After all, Natsu has challenged Erza many times, but the result was either being instantly defeated in a few moves or being ignored. Friendly sparring simply didn't exist, which is pretty unlucky."
"Loke, you're using Natsu to imply something about me."
Gray clicked his tongue. Like Natsu, he'd challenged Erza many times since childhood, and the results were the same as Natsu's: he would inevitably be defeated within three moves. To this day, his and Natsu's win rate against Erza remained a perfect zero.
Nab, who still hadn't found a suitable job, was also in the audience seats. He curiously stared at the handsome man chatting with Gray.
"Loke, I remember you also joined the guild this year. How are you so clear about Natsu and Gray's overconfident challenges to Erza?"
"Oi! Nab! What do you mean 'overconfident'? You can only break through your limits by fighting stronger opponents. I don't think you understand that at all."
No sooner had Nab finished speaking than Gray retorted, clearly annoyed.
Loke, standing beside him, also nodded in agreement. "Exactly, exactly. Gray and Natsu have been beaten by Erza since they were kids. Their thick skin has certainly been well-trained. Otherwise, how could Gray run around naked in the guild?"
"Indeed, Gray wouldn't feel ashamed to strip naked in broad daylight."
Loke and Nab's sarcastic back-and-forth immediately made Gray flush with anger, because only then did he realize that he was wearing nothing but his underwear.
"Loke, where are my clothes?!"
"I don't know."
The commotion outside the field made Noah take a deep breath. He'd been watching Gray standing naked for several minutes, and that guy only just reacted—and that too, after being reminded by his companions.
Anytime, anywhere, stripping at light speed.
A pervert isn't scary. What's scary is a pervert who doesn't know he's a pervert...
Erza was also a bit embarrassed. Couldn't these guys leave a good impression on their new companion? She helplessly tried to smooth things over for Gray. "Noah, don't mind him. Taking off his clothes is a habit Gray has retained since he started practicing Ice-Make."
Who learns Magic by taking off their clothes...? Although Noah didn't speak, Erza could sense his inner thoughts from his gaze.
Erza knew that no matter how much she explained Gray's perverted behavior, it would only be a futile effort, because he truly was an unwitting exhibitionist.
"Never mind them. Let's begin."
A palm-sized Magic Circle unfolded beside her, and Erza drew a wooden sword from it. "Noah, if you need any weapon, you can tell me. I have many here."
Noah shook his head. He was very confident in his martial arts and didn't need a weapon for now. However, Erza's Magic greatly interested him.
Magic: Requip: The Knight.
Requip was Caster Magic, a Magic that was self-awakened. Mages of this type possessed a Magic space with an unknown upper limit, used to store the Magic items corresponding to their Magic.
As long as Erza considered it armor or a weapon, she could store it in her Magic space.
Compared to her Magic space, which allowed her to retrieve items at will, the spatial ring Noah bought for six hundred thousand was simply a joke.
Indeed, comparing oneself to others only leads to frustration.
"Don't get distracted. Let's begin."
Erza's warning voice and the sword in her hand arrived almost simultaneously.
Noah turned his head, narrowly dodging the sword, almost losing a strand of hair.
"To use a wooden sword to this extent, impressive."
Noah's blunt assessment made Erza a bit displeased. Although it was just a friendly spar between guild members, she still hoped the other party would take it seriously.
To make Noah take it seriously, Erza no longer held back but attacked with full force, instantly delivering six or seven consecutive strikes.
The sharp sword momentum blossomed like a flower.
Yet Noah only dodged, never attacking, his body as light as a floating leaf, precisely brushing past each incoming sword-flower.
Steady, accurate, and ruthless—these three words perfectly described Erza's swordsmanship.
But to Noah, Erza's swordsmanship was too unrefined. It must have been self-taught, as no one in the guild could instruct her in that area.
Another round of sword dance concluded.
Erza naturally also noticed that her sword moves always just barely missed Noah, as if that tiny gap was a huge chasm, completely separating their contact.
This was not luck, nor was it Erza holding back out of concern for injuring him. It was because the opponent had completely seen through her moves and anticipated all her subsequent actions.
What level of martial arts mastery could give him the confidence to respond so effortlessly?
Erza stopped her sword. She now understood that Noah's martial arts surpassed hers. In terms of martial arts alone, probably no one in the guild was his match.
Since that was the case, it was better to turn the spar into a lesson.
The Requip Magic Circle reopened, and another wooden sword was drawn by Erza and tossed to Noah.
Is he asking me to instruct him in swordsmanship?
Noah smiled slightly and didn't refuse.
Erza of Edolas had, at Faust's request, taught Noah spear techniques, though Noah soon surpassed her.
He never expected that in the parallel world of Earth Land, Noah would have the opportunity to instruct this world's Erza.
"Erza, your strength and speed are abundant, but your technique is a mess."
"Forget those flashy moves. Remembering these eight basic techniques is enough."
Noah didn't say much. Some knowledge is best experienced firsthand. He then suddenly raised his sword and thrust it at Erza.
Erza drew her sword to block, but then Noah suddenly changed his grip, turning the upright sword horizontally, transforming the vertical thrust into a horizontal one.
The wooden sword's blade slid past her own sword, stopping at her throat. Erza broke out in a cold sweat. She hadn't expected that a simple thrust could have horizontal and vertical variations.
Vertical thrusts are swift, horizontal thrusts are agile.
Just a change in the sword's posture could bring about such variations. Erza felt as if a new world had opened up to her.
Once Erza recovered, Noah resumed his teaching, raising his sword and chopping. Erza continued to defend with her sword, and in one attack and one defense, her wooden sword was suddenly split in two.
Chopping Sword: The arm and sword become a straight line, transmitting power to the blade, making the sword's momentum as powerful and heavy as an axe.
Replacing it with a new wooden sword, Erza continued to defend. She'd already memorized two moves. Only by experiencing them firsthand could she understand the changes in Noah's teaching techniques.
And Noah held nothing back, demonstrating all of his remaining six summarized sword moves.
Pointing Sword: Raising the wrist, the sword points downwards, concentrating power at the tip for an unexpected strike.
Collapsing Sword: Opposite to Pointing Sword, the sword is lifted upwards, capable of deflecting an enemy's weapon to either side.
Slicing Sword: Holding the sword, it is swept diagonally upwards from below, in front of the body, used for deflecting force and defense.
Hanging Sword: The sword's blade sweeps in circles close to the body's sides, suitable for both offense and defense.
Intercepting Sword: Holding the sword, it sweeps downwards, capable of attacking the enemy's lower body or cutting off their offensive.
Twisting Sword: Using the wrist to drive the sword in a circle, while simultaneously transmitting power to the blade.
After one session, Erza was drenched in sweat, and the wooden sword in her hand fell from her grasp after Noah's final Twisting Sword strike hit her arm.
What exquisite techniques! Her previous swordsmanship seemed like aimless hacking and slashing compared to this.
If she could integrate the techniques she learned today into her Magic, Erza felt that it wouldn't be long before she could completely defeat Mirajane.
Just like Natsu and Gray, Erza and Mirajane were also at odds, both hoping to defeat the other one day.
Not far away, Gray, Loke, and Nab had their mouths agape, wide enough to fit two eggs.
"Something's not right. This newcomer is unexpectedly strong."
Loke had lost his previous playful demeanor. Even though he didn't understand swordsmanship at all, he could clearly see the disparity in their swordsmanship from Noah and Erza's recent exchange.
Because of Requip, Erza used various weapons in battle, but the sword was her most frequently used weapon. He never expected her to be completely overwhelmed when facing Noah.
Gray was silent, lost in thought.
Nab, however, took action, running quickly into the field.
"Noah, besides swords, do you know any other martial arts?"
Looking at Nab, who'd suddenly appeared, Noah was puzzled but still nodded. "I know a little bit of boxing, blades, spears, and so on. It's about the same level as my swordsmanship."
This is a little bit?!
Loke and Gray, who'd followed, felt that this newcomer was too humble.
But Loke, after hearing him, stared at Noah with burning eyes. "Master Noah, please teach me boxing!"
The sudden address of Master stunned Noah, but then a surge of secret delight filled him.
Mages in Edolas, lacking internal Magic Power, actually derived their Magic from the Magic items they used.
Most combat-oriented Magic items took the form of various weapons, so Noah was forced by his old father to train in martial arts, becoming proficient in swords, spears, blades, and halberds.
He never expected that because of this, he would have a day where he was called Master.
However, teaching required time, and Noah wasn't particularly keen on doing such things.
Instructing Erza was because she inherently possessed both high talent and comprehension. The reason her swordsmanship was unrefined was due to a lack of guidance. She only needed a hint to immediately grasp it.
But for others...
Ding! You have a new local Wish request.
[Nab Lasaro has always been troubled by his lack of strength. After seeing your posture, he finally understands which aspect he should improve his power. Please guide him to complete a set of boxing techniques.]
[Reward: Independent mastery of Animal Possession.]
[Deadline: Unlimited.]
Although Beast Soul wasn't as powerful as Take Over, for Noah, it could be described as truly appealing.
He simply lacked combat Magic too much.
Patting Nab's shoulder with an encouraging expression, Noah said, "No problem, Nab. I will definitely make you a boxing master."
Nab didn't expect Noah to be so agreeable. "But Noah, I don't have anything valuable to repay you..."
"Don't say such things. We are companions."
Noah's firm tone warmed Nab's heart, and he immediately knelt before Noah. "Master above, please accept your disciple's bow!"
You're serious!
Noah didn't want a disciple four years older than him, so he quickly helped him up. "I can teach boxing, but please don't call me Master. If you absolutely must use a different title for me, how about Instructor?"
"Okay, Master!"
Noah's mouth twitched slightly, and it took him a while to get Nab to change his address.
"Noah... no, Instructor. I want to learn too."
Loke looked at Gray, who'd spoken up, with surprise. "What's going on? Loke's Magic requires martial arts coordination, but why would you, a Molding Mage, learn martial arts?"
"I'm sorry, but my Master told me that Ice-Make should be combined with martial arts."
Gray turned to Noah, awaiting his reply.
Two minutes passed, and Noah sighed. He'd thought he might receive a Wish request from Gray, but nothing happened.
It seemed that in Gray's heart, there was a Wish more important than practicing martial arts.
This put Noah in a difficult position. Just now, he'd righteously told Nab, "We're companions, no reward needed." Now, he couldn't very well ask Gray for favors, could he?
Without a reward, it would be giving it away for free.
Refusing was also difficult. He'd dug his own grave this time.
Just then, Erza spoke up. "Noah, I can suggest to the Guild Master that you instruct guild members in martial arts. It would enhance everyone's strength, and I think the Guild Master would be happy to pay you to be the guild's Martial Arts Instructor."
A very good idea—to slim down Makarov's wallet.
Noah realized that Erza had no understanding of the guild's expenses. After all, as an S-Class Mage, she earned a lot.
But Makarov had to be responsible for the entire guild.
However, what did this have to do with Noah? After all, he wasn't the one making the suggestion.
Erza acted quickly, proposing the suggestion to Makarov that very day. This made Makarov, who was already subsidizing guild funds with his personal savings, frown deeply.
As an experienced senior, Makarov understood the importance of martial arts too well.
Although Magic was the main theme of this world, many spells couldn't be fully utilized without a strong physical foundation, and many combat spells also greatly required the cooperation of martial arts.
For the children's future development, do it!
And so, Fairy Tail's newcomer Noah transformed into the guild's Martial Arts Instructor, guiding companions in the guild who had such needs, and earning a monthly salary of two hundred thousand Jewels.